BREAKING: Key Largo Man Sentenced To More Than Six Years In Crossbow Attack On Roommate

Prosecutors describe incident as premeditated attempt to kill victim.

KEY LARGO, Fla. — A Key Largo man was sentenced Wednesday afternoon to more than six years in prison after pleading no contest to attempting to kill his roommate with a crossbow in what prosecutors described as a calculated and premeditated attack.

George Henry Balboni, 61, received a 78-month prison sentence with credit for 213 days served after entering the plea to attempted first-degree murder, according to the Monroe County State Attorney’s Office.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Trey Evans and the MCSAO Major Crimes Unit.

The attack occurred Sept. 16, 2025 at a residence in the 700 block of Largo Road, where authorities said Balboni devised a plan to kill his 69-year-old roommate following a dispute over a vodka bottle found in his trash.

Investigators said the two men, who had a history of arguments and had lived together for years, became embroiled in a conflict that escalated when Balboni decided in advance to carry out the attack.

According to prosecutors and investigative reports, Balboni used a false medical complaint to lure the victim into a vehicle, claiming he needed to go to the hospital. Once the victim was seated, Balboni fired a crossbow bolt at close range, aiming at the victim’s head.

The bolt struck near the victim’s ear, causing a head injury but not killing him. A struggle followed, during which the victim was able to disarm Balboni and stop the attack.

Balboni later admitted to investigators that he intended to kill the victim, whom he described as a “parasite.”

“The only reason we are not discussing a homicide is because the defendant failed in his attempt and the victim fought back,” Mansfield said, characterizing the attack as a deliberate effort to execute the victim through deception.

Balboni will serve his sentence in state custody and the sentence continues a string of high-profile success for State Attorney Dennis Ward and his office.